Famous gospel minister, Bakulipanam Percy Paul, widely known as Panam Percy Paul, has shared a remarkable story from 1995, revealing how he turned down a highly lucrative record deal that could have changed his career.
In a candid conversation with Pastor Emmanuel Iren, the iconic music minister recalled being offered a three-year contract worth £24 million roughly equivalent to N7 billion at the time.
However, the deal came with an ultimatum that directly conflicted with his Christian values.
Dr. Panam Percy Paul revealed that the record label requested he limit the number of times he mentioned the name “Jesus” in his songs.
They also suggested he use alternative terms like” Righteous One, or Greatest Lover in place of the sacred name.
Recounting the incident, the award winning gospel minister said, “1995, I was at the peak of the ministry, and success in the industry, I was offered 24 million pounds was equivalent to N7 billion naira.
The catch was can you reduce the number of times you call the name Jesus in your songs?
And there is more where this came from and one of them said to me, you actually don’t need to mention the name Jesus. You can call Him other names like Righteous One, Greatest Lover”, I was shocked, so I told them, you can keep the money, while I keep the name.
“Today, the extreme is that music ministry has now become music industry. Where the industry now dictates to ministers what to do, how to sing and when to sing. For example, it was the marketers in Alaba that encouraged the musicians to add tongues to their songs”.
-9News Nigeria.
